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‘The Rings of Power’ Showrunners Break Silence on Backlash, Sauron and Season 2

Two first-time showrunners who landed TV’s biggest series give THR a behind-the-scenes tour as they navigate challenges even scarier than Mordor — from "patently evil" online trolling to massive industry expectations.

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

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“This is where everything happens,” says showrunner Patrick McKay. “The War Room.”

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Since Amazon’s billion-dollar high fantasy launched Sept. 2, The Rings of Power has been blessed with strong critical acclaim (84 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes) and dragged by online fan bashing (its audience score is 39 percent — which includes an unknown degree of “review bombing” at the hands of internet trolls). The show’s Nielsen viewership is formidable — its first two episodes were seen by roughly 12.6 million U.S. viewers across its first four days.

But given this is Lord of the Rings , the bar is insanely high. And nobody knows the stakes better than Payne and McKay. They’re two first-time showrunners who embarked on an unexpected journey nearly five years ago to make their J.R.R. Tolkien passion project and have now found themselves, as McKay puts it, “on the fault line of the culture war,” with everybody from armies of anonymous Tolkien fans to the two richest men in the world weighing in. It ain’t easy to focus on writing scripts and managing a cast and crew of 1,300 on the most complicated TV production of all time when Elon Musk is slagging you on Twitter.

“Some of what’s been hardest to hear is the cynical point of view that this is a cash grab,” McKay says. “It’s like, oh my God, the opposite. This is the most earnest production. This is not a paycheck job for anybody. This is a labor of love.”

Sources say HBO pitched the estate on retelling Middle-earth’s “Third Age” — essentially remaking Peter Jackson’s beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy, which grossed $3 billion and won 17 Oscars. The estate has its gripes with Jackson’s adaptations (the late Christopher Tolkien, the author’s son, said they “eviscerated” the books) but wasn’t interested in treading the same ground. Netflix pitched doing several shows, such as a Gandalf series and an Aragorn drama. “They took the Marvel approach,” said one insider to the talks, “and that completely freaked out the estate.”

Amazon’s negotiating team (led by Sharon Tal Yguado, Roy Price and Dan Scharf) wooed the estate not with a specific pitch, but with a pledge of a close relationship that would give the estate a creative seat at the table so it could protect Tolkien’s legacy. There was also, of course, the money. Sources say the staggering number that’s been widely reported ($250 million) was actually Netflix’s bid and that Amazon’s number was tens of millions less (albeit, still staggering).

“It was our collective passion and fidelity to Tolkien that really won the day,” says Amazon Studios TV co-head Vernon Sanders (who came on board in 2018 as part of an executive shakeup which included Price being ousted for a misconduct claim, Jen Salke joining as Amazon Studios chief and Albert Cheng being installed as TV Co-Head).

Early in their careers, their agents asked the longtime Tolkien fans what was their dream project, and they ambitiously replied, “ The Lord of the Rings .” So, “obviously we were going to throw everything we have at this,” McKay says.

Payne and McKay suspected Tolkien’s far lesser-known Second Age was the key: It’s a centuries-long pre-history to the Lord of the Rings trilogy that still included some immortal characters (such as the fair elves Galadriel and Elrond and the sinister Dark Lord Sauron), along with those soul-corrupting rings. Working together on an apartment floor, they concocted a one-sentence pitch: Chronicle the first five minutes of Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring — the Galadriel-narrated prologue that told the story of the rings of power — during the course of five seasons.

In their Amazon pitch, Payne emphasized their show would be “ Braveheart , not Narnia — you want it real and lived in.” When they got a call to return, McKay says they were told: “You need to go pitch the whole show — this is your shot. Pitch the entire thing to stay alive for the next round. All five seasons.”

It was such a big ask on short notice, they briefly considered canceling the meeting. But the writers embarked on a marathon brainstorming session where they cracked what would become their show’s major storylines. “When that session of fevered creativity and inspiration ended, we had a moment of silence,” McKay recalls. “I looked at the board like: ‘That’s it, this is what the show wants to be.’ “

The duo walked into their second Amazon meeting with full confidence. And then … well … “We did seven more pitches,” McKay says.

What followed felt to Payne and McKay like “a six-month presidential campaign” trying to sway various executives and stakeholders. At one point, they met with the estate and Payne greeted Simon Tolkien in Elvish. In another meeting, McKay drew a map of Tolkien’s world, circled a small portion and told executives, “This is everything you’ve seen in The Lord of the Rings movies” and then started describing other places on the map. “There’s so much more story to tell!”

At one point, Payne and McKay asked mentor and former boss J.J. Abrams to call Amazon to put in a good word, and he did. “We feel like that moved the needle,” says McKay.

Yet the deciding factor was their fleshed-out story and passion for, and depth of knowledge of, Tolkien’s world. Amazon’s programming team kept coming back to the same conclusion: The guys with perhaps the least experience were also the best choice.

“Hearing them bounce back and forth, they had such a deep connection to the material that was there from the beginning,” Salke says. “There was no education you could do for that; it was their natural organic interest.”

McKay says dryly, “I imagine it was very scary for them.”

The first season of Rings was an incredibly long shoot, complicated by COVID delays, extending over 18 months. The filming was done in New Zealand, with Bad Robot veteran Lindsey Weber brought on as a key executive producer. For season two, Amazon moved the production to the U.K., where the company is establishing a hub.

Asked what they’ve learned since that first season that they’re now applying to the second, McKay is candid. “That could be an answer that takes an hour,” he says. “The entire making of this show has been a massive learning experience for everyone involved. We had no idea what we were getting into. No one else did, either.”

“Some people had nice things to say about the pilot and second episode, or they didn’t have nice things to say, but I hope they stay for more episodes,” McKay says. “The bar has to keep going up.”

Criticism they can handle, and they’ve heard it all. Everything fans have debated, they say, they likewise argued among the creative team. They readily admit, for instance, that some of the first-season episodes lack the urgency fans expect from Tolkien adaptations.

“One of the big things we learned was even when it’s a small scene, it always has to tie back into the larger stakes,” Payne says.

“There are things that didn’t work as well in season one that might have worked in a smaller show,” McKay agrees. “It has to be about good and evil and the fate of the world or it doesn’t have that epic feeling you want when you’re in Tolkien.”

But the duo’s aim is as high as it gets: a classic that’s watched over and over like Jackson’s trilogy. “When we talk about the measure of success, what matters to us is if it’s entertaining enough that people are digging into it and debating it,” says McKay. The showrunners believe the debut season will be viewed even more positively as more episodes unfold, with secrets yet to be revealed that will shift how the early episodes play upon second viewing.

“Some things get an immense amount of critical acclaim and win tons of awards and are forgotten the next year,” Payne says. “Conversely, some things don’t get a lot of love yet become classics being watched 60 years later. I think it’ll take a while for the dust to settle.”

Of course, Amazon wouldn’t want to wait 60 years for the show to be globally embraced. Since the launch, its priority for the company has been obvious to even the most casual of Amazon customers. No Prime Video series has ever enjoyed Rings ‘ massive level of retailer cross-promotion — such as a screen-enveloping home-page takeover, an order-button countdown clock, leveraging such as Twitch and IMDb, and packages wrapped in Rings ads landing on doorsteps around the world.

While Amazon could easily survive if Rings were to somehow collapse like the tower of Barad-dûr, industry insiders say its studio arguably couldn’t. They compare the company’s bet on Tolkien to New Line famously gambling its existence on Jackson’s movie trilogy two decades ago.

“The show is exceptionally important to them,” says one of Amazon’s partners. “It’s a branding opportunity for Amazon to show that they can deliver something with a patina of quality in terms of audience, critical and cultural reception, which they have not yet had. And strategically, in a market where there’s contraction at many of their competitors — Netflix, HBO Max — they think this is ushering in a moment for them to expand. Not just in terms of throwing money at things, but their ability to draw other talent and opportunity.”

Or, as one insider put it: “It’s too big to lose.”

Salke’s take is a bit more tempered. “Obviously, it is incredibly important that this be successful,” she says. “But this is a company that takes giant swings all the time, and they’re not afraid of risk.”

So the streamer announced it was switching off reviews of the show on its platform for its first 72 hours after its premiere (then kept them off for an additional five days). The company continued to monitor reviews: Some vanished so fast, it’s like they were wearing the One Ring.

Amazon claims there’s been a coordinated effort to attack the show for daring to diversify Tolkien with strong female characters and people of color. “The hardest part was for people on the cast who have had things related to them privately that are just harmful,” Sanders says.

It’s an explanation that satisfied the media but inflamed some fans who feel the company is dismissive of any criticism and arguably risked escalating what might have been a short-term dust-up into ongoing fandom trench warfare. As one wrote, “I’m tired of the constant media harangues from Amazon that if you don’t love the show, you’re racist.” Many point out HBO’s House of the Dragon faced similar trolling for its diversity moves, yet its audience scores weren’t impacted.

Or take this fan’s complaint: A Tolkien adaptation is a “New Age politically correct girl-power garbage version of fantasy” that’s “raping the text.” That sounds like what’s populating Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb right now, but it was actually quoted in Wired magazine in 2001 for a story about Tolkien fandom’s reaction to Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring .

Payne looks particularly distressed by the topic. “The spirit of Tolkien is about disparate peoples who don’t trust one another and look different from one another finding common ground in friendship and accomplishing big things,” he says. “That’s the spirit we’ve tried to inculcate into every single comma and period in the show. That this aspiration would be offensive to people and enrage them … it’s very hard for us to understand. What are they protecting? I don’t see how people who are saying these things think that they’re fighting for good. There’s a line in episode seven where Galadriel says every war is fought from without and within. Even if you’re fighting for something you think is good, if you do something worse in that fight, then you become evil. I don’t see how people who are saying these things think that they’re fighting for good. It’s patently evil.”

“It was never about the critics, it’s all about consumers,” the insider says. “All Jeff cares about is consumer obsession. If you look at the history of Amazon, every division lived and died based on that … Dragon matters because all of a sudden there is a benchmark. It is their closest comp to success. When they saw Dragon grew in its second episode and brought in 20 million viewers, they were shitting their pants.”

Amazon would certainly not confirm that depiction, but Salke says they’re happy with the show’s opening and points to the fact that U.S. ratings are only one slice of the show’s impact. “The show is performing unbelievably internationally,” she says. “So we’ve been feeling pretty great. To see the U.S. slice come out is just icing on the cake.”

For Payne and McKay, Dragon is a wearisome topic. They were making Rings for years before HBO declared in March that its Thrones prequel was going to debut two weeks before their show. Suddenly, the media and fandom world wouldn’t stop talking about Dragon vs. Rings because, let’s face it, everybody loves a fight. “It dominates the narrative about how it’s received,” McKay says. “But it was not at all part of the narrative in how our show was conceived. Hopefully, we’re competing against ourselves.”

Galadriel looks a little off. But how exactly?

Payne and McKay tour various departments and I tag along while remaining under close supervision ( Nobody goes off trail! And nobody walks alone! ). They meet with the costume department and see the latest batch of garments (“more breakdown” is a common note — to give clothing a more weathered appearance). They select among various designs of Orc facial piercings (they pick the ones that look the most wincingly painful). They meet with the armory to inspect lethal-looking weapons (a blacksmith crewmember works next to a blazing hearth, impressively hammering into shape new prop weapons on an anvil). They tour the Court of Numenor set and point out improvements they’re making (like raising the water that runs along the floor so it pops more on camera). It’s a nonstop whirlwind of decisions and tweaks before the cameras roll.

One major focus of the new episodes will be the show’s big, bad Sauron, who has been said to have returned to Middle-earth but seemingly has not showed up yet. The Second Age’s version of Sauron is not a flaming eye on a tower like in Rings movies but appearing in his “fair form” as a deceptive character.

“It would be very tempting to make the first season of this show The Sauron Show, very villain-centric,” McKay says. “But we wanted that level of evil and complexity of evil to emerge out of a world that you’re invested in — not because evil is threatening it immediately. We wanted you to fall in love again with Middle-earth. We wanted you to understand and relate to the struggles that each of these characters are having before we test them in a way they’ve never been tested before.”

Fans have eagerly speculated certain characters might be Sauron in disguise, which is precisely the sort of engagement the writers hoped to see.

“It’s another Tolkien thing where when a shadow spreads — which is part of what is happening in our show — it affects everyone’s relationships,” Payne says. “Even Frodo and Sam. They’re the best friends in all of Middle-earth, yet they started to mistrust each other because that’s a manifestation of that shadow. So having an audience suspect this person or that person could be Sauron is drawing them into that thing where the shadow is overcoming all of us and making us suspicious of each other.”

Given that their show’s master plan is about the rings gradually corrupting the leadership of men, elves and dwarfs, I briefly wonder if the storyline risks making their saga a bit of a bummer as the whole land falls into enslavement and chaos.

“That’s the secret sauce of Tolkien right there,” Payne explains, leaning forward. “The grimmer things get, the more those pops of light have a contrast to bounce off of. That’s what’s beautiful about Tolkien. Even in points of complete despair you can have two halflings look at each other and say, ‘I’m glad you’re here with me.'”

The showrunners famously start every day in the writers room with a Tolkien quote. As they blaze forward and try to level up their series amid outsized expectations, there’s one that seems appropriate. As it so happens, it’s the same quote Payne recites when asked which is his favorite.

“They passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness,” he says.

Which means?

“It’s the idea that eventually sorrow can become part of the joy,” he says. “Because you’ve gone through so much pain, and now you’re on the other side of it.”

This story first appeared in the Oct. 5 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe .

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confro... Read all Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.

• Patrick McKay
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• Morfydd Clark
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• Trivia Amazon's original pitch for the television rights to J.R.R. Tolkien 's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' novels was to make the series a new adaptation of the latter (effectively a retelling of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) ), but the Tolkien estate rejected this proposal. Amazon finally obtained the rights under the conditions that the series be distinct from Peter Jackson 's earlier adaptations, and that they couldn't contradict anything that Tolkien had previously written. Early ideas that were proposed included prequel stories featuring characters such as Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf, but the showrunners preferred to focus on important untold events from the novels' lore rather than simple side stories, so they settled with the studio that the series would take place during the books' Second Age. Since they didn't have the rights to Tolkien's 'The Silmarillion', 'Unfinished Tales' and 'The History of Middle-earth' (which explore the First and Second Ages), they checked the Lord of the Rings novels and appendices for passages about and references to the Second Age that they could set their story in. They consulted with the estate and several Tolkien lore experts (including grandson and novelist Simon Tolkien ) about the inclusion of new characters and plot elements.
• Goofs The dubbing credits for several languages mistakenly list King Durin III as "Durin II".
• Crazy credits The opening titles is a musical sequence of matter forming various shapes, based on the "Music of the Ainur" creation myth from J.R.R. Tolkien 's "The Silmarillion".
• Connections Featured in The Critical Drinker: The Rings of Power - War For A Fandom (2022)

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Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power First Official Teaser Trailer Debuts During Super Bowl LVI

LOS ANGELES—February 13, 2022—Tolkien fans, pop culture fans, and football fans alike paused during the third quarter of Super Bowl LVI on Sunday when Amazon transported them on a long-awaited journey back into Middle-earth. Prime Video released its first official teaser trailer for its most highly anticipated new series of 2022,  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power . The 60-second commercial spot offered Super Bowl viewers their first-ever audio-visual glimpses of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fabled Second Age, unveiling a brand-new legend from Amazon Studios and showrunners J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay set to begin on September 2. Featuring a selection of characters from the ensemble cast—such as Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs—and Arda-spanning environments, the teaser trailer takes viewers on an action-packed journey filled with wonder and excitement in true cinematic splendor.   The debut of the teaser trailer during the Super Bowl LVI on February 13 marks the latest breakout moment for what will arguably be one of the biggest global marketing campaigns of 2022. Early this year, Prime Video forged the show’s title treatment in molten metal, fuelling fans’ insatiable appetite for this series and organically reaching an estimated 1 billion impressions worldwide within the first 24 hours. This campaign milestone was quickly followed with the unveiling of 23 intricately detailed posters featuring only the hands of the series’ stars, sparking huge online conversation regarding the identity and backstories of these characters. The eagerly awaited  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world in multiple languages on Friday, September 2, with new episodes available weekly. Prime Video’s  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s  The Hobbit  and  The Lord of the Rings  books, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone. The series is led by showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay. They are joined by executive producers Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado, and producers Ron Ames and Christopher Newman. Wayne Che Yip is co-executive producer and directs along with J.A. Bayona and Charlotte Brändström. The multi-season drama will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world in multiple languages on Friday, September 2, with new episodes available weekly. The Lord of the Rings  books have been translated into over 38 languages and have sold more than 150 million copies. To view and download  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  teaser trailer announcement assets, please visit the Amazon Studios press site:  https://press.amazonstudios.com/us/en/original-series/the-lord-of-the-rings-amazon-original-series/1 .

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‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 to Premiere in 2024 — Here’s Everything We Know so Far

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power   Season 2 will premiere in 2024.

Prime Video announced the release window on Wednesday, February 28, along with the news that series creators J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have started to break the initial story outline for  The Rings of Power Season 3. The duo has also inked an exclusive, three-year overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios.

While the series has yet to be officially renewed for Season 3, Prime Video says production is expected to move from Bray Studios to a brand new production facility at nearby Shepperton Studios in the U.K. when it is. With Season 1 breaking every Prime Video viewing record in 2022, it seems that a renewal is all but certain for this epic fantasy series based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien .

This is the first series update since 2023. Here, we break down everything there is to know so far about  The Rings of Power Season 2.

The Rings of Power Season 2 Cast

Ciarán Hinds (L), Rory Kinnear (C), Tanya Moodie (R) for The Rings of Power (Rory Lewis/Pål Hansen/Prime Video)

The Rings of Power Season 2 cast will feature the same stars as before. Morfydd Clark returns as Galadriel, with Charlie Vickers , Robert Aramayo , Charles Edwards , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Ismael Cruz Córdova , Nazanin Boniadi ,  Sophia Nomvete ,  Owain Arthur , Peter Mullan , Maxim Baldry , Trystan Gravelle , Markella Kavenagh , Ema Horvath , Tyroe Muhafidin , Lloyd Owen , Megan Richards , Dylan Smith , Leon Wadham , Daniel Weyman , and Sara Zwangobani . Sam Hazeldine replaces Joseph Mawle as the villain Adar.

Other new cast members for the Emmy-nominated series include Ciarán Hinds ,  Rory Kinnear , Tanya Moodie , and Ben Daniels , as well as Oliver Alvin-Wilson,  Stuart Bowman , Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon,  Will Keen , Selina Lo,  Calam Lynch ,  Gabriel Akuwudike ,  Yasen “Zates” Atour , Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, and Nicholas Woodeson. Character details for the new cast members have not yet been revealed. A supposed casting leak says that Lynch will play Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband whom she said was previously lost to her in Season 1. But only time will tell if that rumor is true.

There are characters we’re hoping to see introduced in the new episodes, such as Círdan, one of the three Elven ring bearers in Tolkien’s books. Galadriel and Elrond are the other two “Keepers of the Three Rings.” We’re also itching to find out if Weyman’s The Stranger is a younger Gandalf, like the Season 1 finale implied.

The Rings of Power Season 2 Plot (Season 1 Spoilers Ahead)

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand in The Rings of Power Season 1 finale (Prime Video)

The Rings of Power  brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. The drama is set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit  and  The Lord of the Rings books and takes viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen, Sauron, threatened to cover all the world in darkness.

'Rings of Power': Is The Stranger Gandalf? Daniel Weyman Weighs In

Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.

The Rings of Power  finale showed the creation of the three Elven rings of power. The series is obviously about the forging of all of the rings of power, as indicated in the show’s name, and it won’t waste any time making more in the next season. Clark confirmed at a Rings of Power  event on May 7, 2023, that Galadriel will wear one of the three Elven rings in Season 2 and that there will be more rings forged.

The finale also revealed the identity of its ultimate villain. Vickers’ Halbrand was not the true King of the Southlands like he claimed to be, but rather Sauron in disguise. His powers of manipulation allowed him to take on the appearance of a random man, not that many in Middle-earth would recognize the ancient’s true form. Vickers told TV Insider after the Season 1 finale that he was “most looking forward to the season we’re currently filming, where Sauron is just wreaking havoc. He’s just being Sauron, you know? It’s a new phase for him.”

The season ended with Sauron walking into the newly formed land of Mordor, which Adar and the Orcs spent all of Season 1 attempting to create. They succeeded in Episode 6 when forcing the eruption of Mount Doom that destroyed the Southlands.

Morfydd Clark & Tyroe Muhafidin in The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 7 (Prime Video)

We know based on the books that Sauron commits his time to making sure the rings of power, and of course the One Ring to rule them all, are made. Expect to see that in Season 2. Galadriel will likely be terrified to reveal her connection to Sauron moving forward, as it will put her judgment and character into question among the Elves.

Clark told TV Insider after Season 1 that she “really liked that they melted down [Galadriel’s] brother’s dagger at the end, because now she really, truly has to try and protect Middle-earth.” Hunting down Sauron in Season 2 is no longer just “about chasing a foe because he has personally hurt her, even though he really has.”

We also saw a glimpse of the Balrog beneath the Dwarf kingdom of Khazad-dûm in Season 1, a seriously dark omen, and the blinded Miriel (Addai-Robinson) is now the Queen of Númenor following her father’s death. But what unrest did Pharazôn, her head counsel, stir up in her absence while she led the fight for the Southlands with Galadriel?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power , Season 2, 2024, Prime Video

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power where to stream

Ben Daniels

Benjamin walker, charles edwards, charlie vickers, ciarán hinds, cynthia addai-robinson, daniel weyman, ismael cruz cordova, j.r.r. tolkien, maxim baldry, morfydd clark, nazanin boniadi, owain arthur, peter mullan, robert aramayo, rory kinnear, sam hazeldine, sophia nomvete, tanya moodie, tyroe muhafidin.

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• 20 Important Characters You Need to Know Before Watching <i>The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power</i>

20 Important Characters You Need to Know Before Watching The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Rings of Power , the new J.R.R. Tolkien series that premieres on Prime Video Sept. 1, takes place during the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events of Lord of the Rings . It begins after Sauron’s master, the evil lord Morgoth, is defeated. Sauron may have gone into hiding, but he’s still alive: the series will eventually show Sauron’s creation of the titular rings of power—including the one ring to rule them all. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have already plotted out five seasons that will culminate in a battle between Sauron’s evil forces and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

Anyone who has read the books or watched Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy knows where the story is headed: During that battle, a man named Isildur cuts the ring from Sauron’s finger, thus defeating him. But he is unable to bring himself to destroy the powerful object: thousands of years later, that task falls to a hobbit named Frodo. Still, the showrunners have promised a story—with many twists, surprises, and adventures along the way—that deepens our understanding of that final showdown.

Read More: The Secretive, Extravagant, Bighearted World of The Rings of Power , the Most Expensive Show Ever Made

To understand the story, you need to know the main players of the Second Age. Some characters will be familiar: The immortal lives of elves span Middle-earth’s many ages. Tolkien fans may know other characters by name since they’re referenced in his books and particularly the appendices of The Return of the King that outline the events of the Second Age. Other characters are brand new, and what part they’ll play in the larger story remains a mystery.

Here’s everyone you need to know before you watch the show.

Galadriel (Morfydd Clark)

The role of Galadriel was immortalized by a young Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In that movie she was a powerful—even a little bit terrifying—elf who helped guide Frodo on his journey to destroy the ring. She even resisted the temptation to take the powerful object when Frodo offered it to her, which is no small feat.

Elves are immortal, and in The Rings of Power , we meet a much younger version of Galadriel, played by Clark. She is thousands of years younger than Blanchett’s version and far more brazen. The show promises to show how she evolves into the wise stateswoman we meet in Lord of the Rings .

Read More: How Galadriel Became One of Lord of the Rings’ Most Fascinating Characters

At the beginning of the series, she is an impressive warrior determined to avenge the death of her brother who was killed fighting Sauron and his henchmen. She hunts for the disappeared Sauron across Middle-earth.

Halbrand (Charlie Vickers)

Halbrand is a new character written for The Rings of Power . The mortal man with a mysterious background is on the run when he meets Galadriel. Many fans have already begun theorizing that Halbrand may be hiding his identity given that he seems to be a rather important player and was never mentioned in Tolkien’s works. Plus the whole “mysterious background” description should give you pause. And, after all, Tolkien wasn’t big on coincidences. People tend to happen upon each other by fate in his stories. Stumbling on Galadriel must signal that he has some larger role to play in the fight between good and evil.

Elrond (Robert Aramayo)

Lord of the Rings fans will recognize Elrond, the half-elf, half-man who presides over the elven land of Rivendell. (Hugo Weaving played Elrond in the Jackson trilogy.) Elrond not only fights against Sauron’s army in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, but he plays a pivotal role in determining the fate of the ring. Thousands of years later, he will help Frodo with his mission to destroy the object.

Read More: The Lord of the Rings Movies Are Now Holiday Movies. Here’s Why

But before Elrond became an esteemed military leader or had his daughter Arwen, he was a statesmen working for the elf High King Gil-Galad. Early in the show, he is sent on a mission to the Dwarf kingdom of Kazad-dûm early in the show to meet with his old friend Prince Durin IV.

High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker)

Lord of the Rings fans got a brief look at High King Gil-Galad (played by Mark Ferguson) in the first few minutes of Fellowship of the Ring . Gil-Galad formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men with Elendil and can be seen in that battle. He is arguably the most important elf living in the Second Age. In the show, Gil-Galad rules over the elf kingdom of Lindon.

Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards)

Readers and fans of the popular Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor video games will recognize Celebrimbor as the elf smith who was tricked into forging the rings of power by a disguised Sauron. The show quite literally hinges on his creation. So when Celebrimbor shows up in the early episodes of Rings of Power and talks longingly about wanting to create powerful objects, those words are laden with dramatic irony.

Read More : Exclusive: This Fan-Favorite Character Is Joining the Second Season of Rings of Power

Isildur (Maxim Baldry)

Isildur is the man who manages to cut the one ring from Sauron’s finger. But he fails to destroy the ring itself. That failure allows for Sauron to rise again in the Third Age when Lord of the Rings takes place. In the movies, Aragorn, a descendent of Isildur, frets that he, like his ancestor, will betray his human weakness when in battle against great evil.

But while Isildur’s tale is a tragedy, he also accomplished some good things. He founded and ruled Gondor with his brother Anárion. And he helped, along with his father and Gil-Galad, lead the fight against Sauron. When we meet him in the show, he is just a sailor, not yet a leader of men.

Elendil (Lloyd Owen)

Isildur’s father Elendil played a crucial role in the fight against Sauron. His name literally translates to “Elf Friend,” and he did indeed form a crucial alliance with the elves to stop great evil from spreading through Middle-earth. When we meet him in the series, he is captaining a ship and trying to manage the tempers of his adult children.

Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur)

Durin’s father King Durin III rules over the Dwarf kingdom of Khazad-dûm. You may recall Gandalf facing down a Balrog in the mines of a destroyed Khazad-dûm (later known as Moria) toward the end of Fellowship of the Ring . But during the Second Age the subterranean kingdom is flourishing, thanks to the riches hidden in the mountain where the dwarves reside.

Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete)

Durin’s wife, Disa, is the first female dwarf ever depicted in a Tolkien adaptation. She is one of many dwarves who sings to the mountain in order to divine its secrets.

Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova)

Arondir is an elf written for the show. He is Silvan Elf rather than a High Elf, which basically means he’s less interested in pomp and circumstance and more interested in nature. The Silvan Elves live in what becomes Mirkwood and Lothlórien. When we meet Arondir, he’s a soldier who is in love with the human Bronwyn. As you may recall from Aragorn and Arwen’s romance, human-elf relationships are frowned upon in Middle-earth. Humans are mortal and elves are not, so any relationship between them is bound to end in tragedy. We know from the trailers that Arondir eventually finds himself battling a whole slew of orcs.

Read More: Review: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Is Filled With Beautiful Images and Tired Archetypes

Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi)

Bronwyn is a healer and single mother to son Theo. They live in Tirharad, a name that translates to “near Harad.” Given that Harad is a mysterious region south of Mordor, that doesn’t bode particularly well for her people. Perhaps that’s why Arondir—and possibly Bronwyn—run into orcs.

Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin)

The son of Bronwyn, Theo’s character is another invention of the show. Intriguingly, in trailers for the series he’s looking a rather a broken sword with evil Mordor vibes. What the weapon is or how Theo acquired it—perhaps from his unidentified father?—remains a mystery.

Read More: 5 Big Questions The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Needs to Answer

Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh)

What would a Lord of the Rings show be without hobbits—or at least hobbit-adjacent creatures? Nori is a harfoot, one of the nomadic ancestors of the hobbits. Tolkien wrote about harfoots in his work “Concerning Hobbits.” The harfoots hide from humans and other creatures, which explains why Nori may be missing from the great histories of Middle-earth. But she has an important role to play in the show. She discovers a stranger who has fallen from the sky on a meteor and, itching for adventure, vows to help him find his way to his people.

Read More : The Rings of Power Exclusive: Producer Says Fan Theories About Sauron Are Wrong

Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards)

Poppy is Nori’s friend and often finds herself dragged into Nori’s mischievous antics.

The Stranger (Daniel Weyman)

A mysterious man falls from the sky on a meteor. He seems to have some magical powers but doesn’t speak Nori’s tongue so his origins are unclear. The showrunners have dubbed him The Stranger and remained mum on who he might be. This is pure speculation on my part, but whenever I see a magic-user in this show, I will automatically assume that person is a wizard until proven otherwise. Technically, according to Tolkien’s writing, neither Gandalf nor Saruman arrived in Middle-earth until the Third Age. But it’s certainly possible, if not likely, the writers would find a way to work a beloved character like that into the show.

Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry)

Lenny Henry is another harfoot who is able to read signs from the stars. He appears to be at least one of the leaders of the traveling group.

Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith)

Largo Brandyfoot is Nori’s father who indulges her occasionally troublesome ways.

Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson)

One key location in Rings of Power will be the island kingdom of Númenor, which was ruled by humans of half-elven heritage. Aragorn, Boromir, and Faramir all descend from the men of Númenor. But by the time of Lord of the Rings , Númenor has fallen: Our heroes briefly sail through its ruins in Fellowship of the Ring . But at the time of Rings of Power , the land is still formidable.

When the show begins, Queen Regent Míriel rules over the land. But her people are restless and divided over the future of the kingdom. And a man named Pharazôn has some ideas of his own.

Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle)

Pharazôn is an advisor to Míriel. But he’s also amassing a following of his own. He will play a major role in determining the fate of Númenor.

Mysterious character from the Rhûn (Bridie Sisson)

Many fans clocked a mysterious character in the Comic-Con trailer for Rings of Power and theorized the person might be Sauron in disguise. Though the internet initially thought this blonde-haired mystical being was played by the actor Anson Boon, Rings of Power executive producer Lindsey Weber confirmed to TIME that in fact the character will be portrayed by Bridie Sisson . She would not confirm the character’s name, but did say that she is traveling from the east “from the lands of Rhûn,” which happens to be one of Sauron’s favorite haunts.

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‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Showrunners Already Prepping Season 3 Storylines

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As part of their new deal with Amazon MGM Studios , “ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ” showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne are already at work on breaking stories for Season 3 of the Prime Video series. That comes as Prime Video preps a premiere later this year for Season 2 of the series.

A Season 3 writers room isn’t yet open, but the showrunners are at work on the initial story outline. According to the studio, it’s likely that Season 3 of “The Rings of Power” will shoot at Shepperton Studios in the U.K., via a new production facility. The first two seasons were filmed at Bray Studios.

According to Amazon, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (which launched in fall 2022) was the most-watched Amazon Original in every region and debuted at #1 on Nielsen’s streaming chart.

“We began this remarkable journey with JD and Patrick more than five and a half years ago and have never looked back,” Amazon MGM Studios TV head Vernon Sanders said in a statement. “We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ in its record-breaking first season. We can’t wait for Prime Video customers to experience the epic adventure and high-stakes drama that JD and Patrick are continuing to build throughout season two and beyond. Naturally, the studio is thrilled to extend our overall deal with these brilliant creative minds as they continue to deliver on their passion for great storytelling.”

Payne and McKay are repped by CAA and attorney Barry Littman. THR first broke the news.

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Screen Rant

Lord of the rings: rings of power season 3 gets promising update in new report.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 gets a promising update in a new report, suggesting plans for more episodes are already in place.

• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 plans are in motion even before season 2 airs.
• Showrunners McKay and Payne signed a three-year overall deal with Amazon, indicating a strong future for the series.
• Amazon is impressed by the show's success and the vision of the showrunners.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 has already received a promising update in a new report, suggesting plans for the show's future are already in place. The series debuted on Prime Video in 2022, becoming the most expensive TV show ever made. Production on season 2 wrapped in June 2023, with the new batch of episodes slated to be released later this year.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that, while The Rings of Power season 2 has yet to air, showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne are already making their plans for season 3. This comes after the pair signed a three-year overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios, creating the production company 10:40 PM Productions. Check out what Amazon's head of television, Vernon Sanders, had to say about the future of the show and its showrunners:

We began this remarkable journey with JD and Patrick more than five and a half years ago and have never looked back. We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in its record-breaking first season. We can’t wait for Prime Video customers to experience the epic adventure and high-stakes drama that JD and Patrick are continuing to build throughout season two and beyond. Naturally, the studio is thrilled to extend our overall deal with these brilliant creative minds as they continue to deliver on their passion for great storytelling.

How Many Seasons Of The Rings Of Power Will There Be?

These developments open the door for even more stories, which are expected to continue for multiple seasons.

McKay and Payne’s new deal with Amazon appears to secure the show’s future into season 3 and beyond. The Rings of Power season 1 ended with a multitude of cliffhangers, including the reveal that Halbrand is Sauron, there is a Balrog beneath Khazad-dûm, and Celebrimbor has crafted the first three Rings. These developments open the door for even more stories, which are expected to continue for multiple seasons.

When Amazon bought the TV rights for The Lord of the Rings , they made a commitment for The Rings of Power to be produced through season 5 . Since the multi-billion dollar company is likely to follow through with this pledge, it's likely the show will have told its full story within that time frame. While its showrunners are already planning for its far-off future, the series having a cutoff point indicates a definitive ending is also being planned.

Rings Of Power Can Finally Solve An Old Tolkien Mystery (Here's Why It Shouldn't)

Since the show making it to season 5 seems to be a guarantee, it's no surprise to hear that production on season 3 is starting despite season 2 not being released. With a darker tone for The Rings of Power teased by director Charlotte Brändström, it seems the show will be taking viewers on a multi-season ride that will be worth it by the time it's over. With no news yet on when season 2 will be released, the show's continued development is a sure sign of its continuation far into the future.

Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is currently available to stream on Prime Video.

Source: THR

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history for the very first time. Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power will explore a time in the franchise where kingdoms rose and fell, where The One Ring itself was forged and tells the tale of the rise of the greatest foe in the Lord of the Rings Franchise, the Dark Lord Sauron. Beginning in a time of peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of familiar and new characters as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the depths of the Misty Mountains to the forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, The Rings of Power promises to condense the extended works of Tolkien in a condensed but all-encompassing TV show format. The first season of The Rings of Power began airing exclusively on Prime Video on September 2, 2022

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In the Battle of the Genre Shows, Does House of the Dragon or Rings of Power Take the Crown?

By Natalie Jarvey

When HBO and Amazon decided to premier expansive—not to mention expensive—new fantasy shows within mere days of each other, they set themselves up for a battle that would be as big as any epic that would play out on viewers’ TV screens: Would House of the Dragon take the viewership crown, or would The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power be the genre show to rule them all?

People involved with both shows have chafed at the comparisons. “We’re not even on the same night,” Game of Thrones author and Dragon co-creator George R.R. Martin told The Hollywood Reporter in July, and yet, Hollywood can’t resist, especially as it looks for lessons that can be applied to the more frugal next phase of the streaming wars. “Having something that is a cultural phenomenon is critical to any service,” LightShed media and technology analyst Richard Greenfield tells Vanity Fair .

In truth, stacking the two shows up against each other isn’t an easy task; it’s a bit of an apples-to-elfin oranges ordeal because of the platforms they’re on and the data available—or not. Though both shows are rooted in fantasy novels that have legions of devoted readers, that’s largely where the similarities end. House of the Dragon is a prequel to the wildly popular and long-running Game of Thrones series and is available on both cable (HBO) and streaming (HBO Max). Rings of Power, meanwhile, is an original story that takes inspiration from, but is not directly related to, the Peter Jackson -directed movie trilogy, and it streams on a video platform (Amazon Prime Video) operated by one of the largest tech companies in the world. Still, with Rings having just concluded its eight-episode first season and with Dragon preparing to bow the tenth and final episode of its first season on Sunday night, now seems as good a time as ever to try to take stock of their performance.

First, an exploration of just what success looks like for the companies behind both projects. Amazon was best known for quiet shows like the police procedural Bosch and family dramedy Transparent and was in need of a platform-defining, global hit when it spent a reported $250 million to acquire the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world in 2017. Game of Thrones was still wrapping its eight-season run and Amazon executives, like many others in Hollywood, were hoping that they could mount the next water-cooler genre show. A Lord of the Rings TV series had the potential to ignite a passionate fan base and become a calling card for the company, not to mention excite existing Prime members. With a five-season plan already in place, Amazon is taking a long view on the series, which is expected to cost in excess of $1 billion when all is said and done. Rings of Power premiered in early September just as Amazon was also kicking off its exclusive contract to stream the NFL’s Thursday Night Football lineup. “Between Thursday Night Football and Lord of the Rings , Amazon is dramatically expanding Amazon Prime,” says Greenfield. “It’s an important step in the right direction.”

HBO has been looking for the right show to expand its foothold into Westeros since well before Game of Thrones concluded. After disappointing some fans with that series’ finale, it became all the more important that executives find the right project to turn Thrones into a franchise. Amid the search for the next show, HBO’s parent company went through two major transitions, first a sale to AT&T and later a merger with Discovery that created executive turnover and shifting corporate priorities. When it finally launched in late August—more than three years after Thrones aired new episodes— House of the Dragon needed to both reignite a fanbase and attract new audiences to stories about swords and dragons, ideally audiences who would be enticed to subscribe to HBO Max and stick around for other programming like Succession or Barry.

The Ratings

It turns out, producing hits isn’t a zero-sum game. HBO says House of the Dragon attracted nearly 10 million viewers in the US when it premiered on August 21, making it the most-watched new show in the network’s history. Not even two weeks later, more than 25 million global viewers tuned in to watch Rings of Power, earning it the same distinction for Amazon, per the company. Those self-disclosed data points indicate that both shows were early successes for their respective companies, but it’s nearly impossible to compare them to determine which show had the better debut.

Nielsen offers a slightly clearer picture of how the House of the Dragon and Rings of Power premieres fared against each other—at least in the US. The ratings company said Dragon reached an audience of 14.5 million across both HBO and HBO Max in its first four days of availability, giving it a slight edge over Rings, which had 12.6 million viewers for its first episode in the four days after its premiere.

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“It feels like a throwback in time,” says Julie Escurignan , an assistant professor at Paris’s Ecole de Management Léonard de Vinci, who has researched Game of Thrones fandom. She notes that audiences have been feeling “nostalgia” for a water-cooler show. “There is an urge to feel like before [the pandemic]. House of the Dragon is allowing us to do that.”

On a week-to-week basis, Rings has been dominating Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings, which measures how many minutes a show is viewed. It debuted as the number one streaming show during its premiere week, with 1.25 million minutes, beating Dragon and its 781 million minutes. But, again, a caveat: Nielsen’s streaming ratings don’t factor in the linear HBO viewership for Dragon. HBO has said that season one episodes were averaging 29 million US viewers each across all platforms. Amazon has not disclosed any episode-specific data beyond what is publicly available from Nielsen, which shows continued strong viewership for Rings, even as the total number of minutes viewed has dropped slightly each week.

There’s also the crossover factor, with many people watching both shows, not a huge surprise given both franchises are popular with fantasy fans. It helps that new episodes drop on different nights. Rings of Power comes out on Fridays and House of the Dragon on Sundays. Per Nielsen , 34% of Rings of Power viewers are also watching House of the Dragon , and 33% of Dragon viewers are also watching Rings .

The Conversation

The good news: Critics like both shows in equal measure. Rings of Power has a generally favorable 71 score across 40 critical reviews, per Metacritic. House of the Dragon is not too far behind with a 69 across 43 reviews. Audiences, however, seem to have more mixed views, though review aggregation websites indicate they favor Dragon more than Rings . (It’s worth reserving some skepticism for audience scores, particularly for Rings , which may have been “review bombed” after sparking what The Hollywood Reporter called “a racist backlash” over its inclusive casting decisions.)

The online chatter for both shows is high, particularly after new episodes drop. According to Parrot Analytics—which measures the demand for a show based on such factors as activity on social media platforms and fan sites, as well as piracy—indicates that the demand for each show is much higher than most. But House of the Dragon, which premiered to an existing Thrones fan base that had hardly remained dormant in the years since it ended, has had the upper hand. Parrot says that during its premiere week, House of the Dragon averaged nearly 103 times more demand than the average show worldwide. Rings of Power , which had to build a largely new fan base on its platform, saw demand that was nearly 64 times the average during its premiere week. House of the Dragon podcasts generally outranked Rings of Power podcasts on the Apple and Spotify charts in the past 30 days, according to analytics platform Chartable. And Dragon —which has 779,000 Twitter followers compared with Rings ’ 517,000—even had a viral moment when star Emma D’Arcy launched a new fall drink trend .

Though these data points don’t tell the whole story, they have created a sense that House of the Dragon is, at least at this moment, the larger cultural phenomenon, leading Variety critic Caroline Framke to express “a petty sort of confusion that [ Rings of Power ] isn’t half the pop culture monster it once promised to be.”

Jon Ben-Asher, a staff member at Lord of the Rings fan site TheOneRing.net, says House of the Dragon had “a major advantage coming in” because fans had already built a habit of tuning in to HBO on Sunday nights to watch Thrones. Amazon, meanwhile, had to build trust with the Rings fan base by showing it that it could authentically translate Tolkien’s mythology into a serialized story. “In this little corner,” he says, referring to TheOneRing.net community, “people are loving the show.”

The Verdict

So, which series has won the battle of the genre shows? In truth, there are no losers here. Neither project flopped on arrival and both have weathered early criticism to set themselves up for long runs. HBO has renewed House of the Dragon, which is expected to let its current story line play out over three or four seasons. Meanwhile, Amazon has already given the greenlight for an entire five-season run for Rings of Power.

Going forward, Hollywood should be cheering on both shows, and looking to them for lessons. After all, every TV network and streamer in town wants to mount its own water-cooler series. Disney+ has The Mandalorian but continues to mine the Star Wars and Marvel universes for new stories. Netflix has yet to find the show that can take over for Stranger Things and become its next big returning franchise—differentiating from pinch-hit wins with limited series like the recent Dahmer —and Hulu is hoping to entice The Handmaid’s Tale viewers to stick around for fantasy novel adaptation series A Court of Thorns and Roses, currently in development with Outlander showrunner Ronald Moore.

As Greenfield of LightShed notes, the streaming wars will only be sustained if each company can continue producing big, buzzy hits. “You can have a big hit, but if you don’t have enough other [programming], it doesn’t matter.”

Listen to the Still Watching: House of the Dragon podcast, and sign up to receive a weekly “Westeros Update” in your inbox.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2: Cast, Plot, Filming Location, and More

Here's what to know about the return of The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  Season 1 ended with the big reveal: Halbrand ( Charlie Vickers ), Galadriel's ( Morfydd Clark ) travel companion whom she formed a special bond with, is Sauron. Where do we go from here? It may be a while before we return to Middle-earth.

You probably have questions: When will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 be released? How much bigger can the cast get? What will Sauron be up to next season? We'll try to answer those questions, and many more, including where Season 2 will be filmed, how many episodes it will consist of, and who's directing.

Here's everything to know about  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 latest news

Filming for The Rings of Power wrapped a few weeks before the actors strike began, according to Variety . At the moment, we don't have more news about the show's production.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 cast

Ciarán Hinds ,  Rory Kinnear , and  Tanya Moodie  are the latest actors to join the cast of  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power .  Variety reported  on March 20 that Hinds ( Belfast ), Kinnear ( Penny Dreadful ), and Moodie ( Empire of Light ) will each recur in Season 2. Their roles have not been announced.

Gabriel Akuwudike ,  Yasen 'Zates' Atour ,  Ben Daniels , Amelia Kenworthy,  Nia Towle , and  Nicholas Woodeson  were added to the cast in December, per Deadline , along with Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman , Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb , Kevin Eldon , Will Keen , Selina Lo , and Calam Lynch . Their characters also have not been announced.

We do know, however, that one familiar character will be played by a new actor. The role of Adar, the villainous leader of the Orcs, has been recast.  Joseph Mawle  will be replaced by  Peaky Blinders  actor  Sam Hazeldine  going forward, according to  TVLine . No reason was given for the recasting.

As for new characters coming in Season 2, we don't know much, but we do know that one well-known character from the Tolkien universe will be making an appearance: Círdan the Shipwright. Before Season 1 even premiered, co-showrunner J. D. Payne confirmed to  Time  that he was excited for fans to meet their version of Círdan in Season 2. Fans of the books will remember that Círdan is the oldest living elf, so old that he is the only known elf to have a beard. Círdan appeared briefly in the first and third movies and was portrayed by Michael Elsworth. Prime Video has not revealed who will play the character in the series.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  main cast

• Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
• Markella Kavenagh as Nori Brandyfoot
• Robert Aramayo as Elrond
• Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad
• Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor
• Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
• Owain Arthur as Durin IV
• Charlie Vickers as Halbrand/Sauron
• Sophia Nomvete as Disa
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Míriel

Check out our character guide for the main Season 1 characters in the series:  

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Character Guide

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 renewal

Amazon acquired the rights to make a Lord of the Rings television show on Nov. 13, 2017, for a reported $250 million, though showrunners Patrick McKay and J. D. Payne later clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that it was "tens of millions" less, and the quarter billion-dollar offer was Netflix's failed bid. Prime Video set a multi-season goal for the series and officially ordered a second season in November of 2020. 

McKay and Payne have stated that they have a five-season run planned out  and even know what the final shot of the series is, though Amazon has not officially ordered a third season, let alone Seasons 4 and 5. 

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 release date prediction

No premiere date has been announced for Season 2. Filming has wrapped, Variety reported on July 13 , but with writers and actors currently striking for fair wages, there's been no word on how the production timeline will be affected.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in October 2022, co-showrunner Patrick McKay said that he expected to be working on Season 2 for "another couple years," which means an optimistic guess on when The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 will hit Prime Video based on McKay's own words is the second half of 2024. However, McKay and his co-showrunner J. D. Payne also admitted that with the experience gained from Season 1 under their belts, production on Season 2 was going faster and more smoothly, which could bump up that time frame a bit.

If you're looking for some historical context to guess when Season 2 will premiere, here's what we know about how Season 1 came to be. Shooting Season 1 was an incredibly long task, beginning in February of 2020 in New Zealand and taking 18 months due to the massive production and COVID delays. Season 1 filming was completed in early August of 2021. Filming of Season 2 began on Oct. 3, 2022, in the production's new home of the United Kingdom. But Season 2 is expected to be bigger, so even though production might be smoother, the scope of each episode is presumably larger, adding to the production time. I guess it's better to establish a longer release window and beat expectations than promise sooner and disappoint fans when there's a delay.

How many episodes will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 be?

Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power consisted of eight hour-plus episodes. Season 2 isn't changing things up and will also run for eight episodes. 

What's coming in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

The Season 1 finale revealed Sauron's identity and gave fans more hints about who The Stranger is (he's a wizard!).

There are very few details on The Rings of Power Season 2, but the showrunners have shared a few ideas. McKay and Payne are touting Season 2 as being "bigger and better" on "every level... by an order of magnitude." All showrunners double as salesmen, so touting a bigger season isn't a surprise, but color us intrigued by the promise of the new season being better by an order of magnitude . It could be a simple sales pitch, but it can also be the pair looking at what they did in Season 1 and realizing that they must up their game. Case in point,  The Hollywood Reporter 's big pre-Season 1 finale Rings of Power cover story says Season 2 will feature "more iconic locations," "familiar Middle-earth characters," and, most interestingly, "a massive two-episode battle." Yes!

Following the Season 1 finale, Morfydd Clark spoke to TV Guide and told us when Galadriel finally wised up to Halbrand's true identity, and how Galadriel felt totally blindsided by the reveal that he was Sauron. McKay and Payne explained to The Hollywood Reporter that much of Season 2 will focus on Sauron's development as an antihero. "Sauron can now just be Sauron," McKay said. "Like Tony Soprano or Walter White. He's evil, but complexly evil. We felt like if we did that in Season 1, he'd overshadow everything else. So the first season is like  Batman Begins , and  The Dark Knight  is the next movie, with Sauron maneuvering out in the open. We're really excited. Season 2 has a canonical story. There may well be viewers who are like, 'This is the story we were hoping to get in Season 1!' In Season 2, we're giving it to them."

Behind the scenes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2

Amazon has confirmed the three directors who will be helming episodes of Season 2, and they're all women. According to Deadline , Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri, and Louise Hooper have all been named as directors on the show, with Brändström (who directed two episodes in Season 1, including "Udûn," which featured the season's biggest battle) directing four of the season's eight episodes. She will also serve as co-executive producer for the series. She's taking over the lead director position from Wayne Che Yip, who directed four episodes in Season 1, including the finale (pilot director J.A. Bayona also is not returning). Hamri and Hooper — who both have recent prior TV fantasy directing experience, with Hamri working on  The Wheel of Time  and Hooper directing episodes of  The Witcher  and  The Sandman  — will each be directing two episodes.

Where is The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 filmed?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 was famously filmed in New Zealand, which was also the picturesque backdrop for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films. However, Season 2 of The Rings of Power is changing things up. 

Season 2 is moving production to the U.K. and started filming on Oct. 3, 2022 just outside of London at Bray Studios in Berkshire. Reasons given for the location change include cheaper costs, easier access to more diverse locations throughout Europe, and the Tolkien estate expressing the U.K.'s influence on Tolkien's writing. 

More shows like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Now that you've seen Season 1, what do you watch next? Our list features fantasy epics for the whole family (or just the adults) on several streaming services, including Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO Max. Here are 7 shows like The Rings of Power . 

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 review

Our pre-air review of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  from Keith Phipps was a positive one, with special kudos to the show's visuals and the approach that paid homage to both the books and Peter Jackson's films. The big knock on it? It took a while to get things going. Here's Keith Phipps' review of the early Season 1 episodes .

Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 is currently on Amazon Prime Video.

Where to watch The Lord of the Rings films

All three of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King  — are currently streaming on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video. HBO Max also has the extended versions of each film, in case three hours isn't enough for you.

More on  The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power :

• Sauron Actor Breaks Down the Big Reveal in Season 1 Finale
• Morfydd Clark on Sauron's Identity, and How Galadriel Never Saw It Coming
• 7 Shows Like  The Rings of Power  to Watch While You Wait for Season 2

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Cast, Showrunners, Directors, Plot And More Details

Season 1 of Amazon Prime's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantastical body of wordy work, is finally available to stream in its entirety. Since its genesis, the production has been beleaguered with a complicated critical response. There was even a span of time in which Amazon suspended user reviews, as they were universally negative. At the time, these depressing ratings were framed as an act of review bombing. While that may be true, Season 1 has wrapped, and the current IMDb  and  Rotten Tomatoes scores don't reflect a beloved prestige fantasy series in perfect standing with the public. 

It is not for us to say whether these scores accurately quantify the quality of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." It is, however, for us to share whether or not these scores have influenced the production's future. The short answer is no, they haven't, because there are plans already in motion for Season 2. "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" was awarded an early renewal order way ahead of Season 1's release, in fact. Long before the production was fully shaped, it had already been decided that it would go beyond Season 1. 

Fast forward to today. What is Season 2 of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" looking like? Here's everything we know so far. 

When will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 be released?

In October 2022, The Hollywood Reporter announced that production on "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 2 was in full swing. But when exactly can we expect to return to Middle-earth? Well, we're not 100% sure — but we do have some relevant info. 

Speaking with Collider , Amazon Studios head Vernon Sanders remarked, "It would be amazing if we could get Season 2 out within a year of Season 1's release." This desire for a speedy production ultimately came true: In June 2023, leading fan site Fellowship of Fans reported that Season 2 had wrapped up filming. Unlike many similar projects, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" wasn't grievously impacted by the WGA strike. The production also endured an April 2023 electrical fire with very little turmoil to speak of. Of course, the end of filming doesn't mean the end of work — editing, mixing, and other such processes must still take place to get Season 2 into ready-to-debut shape. Still, this means fans could be looking at a release date sooner rather than later.

"The Rings of Power" is so on-track, in fact, that it's already looking forward to the post-Season 2 future. On August 9, Production Weekly, a publication aimed at those in the film and TV industry, listed "The Rings of Power" Season 3 as one of many projects going into production. While that slate of episodes is just a glimmer in the crew's eyes right now, it's nice to know "The Rings of Power" is in it for the long haul.

What is the plot of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

What does Season 2 have in store? Well, in May 2023, Morfydd Clark remarked , "[Galadriel is] about to have a life-changing thing happen to her. She's about to become acquainted with Nenya, her ring." Clark also shared that Galadriel will leave some of her brooding tendencies behind in Season 2 — but that doesn't mean Middle-earth will be untroubled. As Ismael Cruz Córdova put it, "We were in a time of relative peace in Season 1 and all that gets shaken up. Now we're dealing with the aftermath of this big evil."

Given that Season 1 ends with Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) revealing himself as Sauron and the creation of Mordor, Season 2 will probably explore the fledgling years of the newly volcanic land. Other probable threads include The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) coming into his own as one of the Istari (that's Tolkien speak for wizard ), and the continued forging of the titular rings of power. We might also see increased prominence for the Numenoreans — or we might not. Rumors indicate there's some disagreement happening behind the scenes regarding how much screen time to devote to the Men of Numenor versus the Elves.

Fan site Fellowship of Fans also reports that Rivendell might make its debut in Season 2. This could be connected to a rumored battle scene — Elven warriors in armor have been spotted on set. As Tolkien devotees know, the founding of Rivendell is deeply connected to the Elves' war against Sauron. Whether the haven will merely be mentioned or show up in full remains to be seen.

Who is starring in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

We expect most of the original cast to return for Season 2. That means that viewers should anticipate Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Markella Kavenagh, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, Owain Arthur, Sophia Nomvete, and many, many more. However, Sam Hazeldine won't be reprising his role as Adar, the Orc leader. Instead, the role has been recast with Joseph Mawle, best known as Benjen Stark from "Game of Thrones."

As for new actors, we know that legendary character actor Ciarán Hinds will appear in a recurring guest role. You've definitely seen Hinds before, as he's appeared in everything from "Game of Thrones" to "Justice League" to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2." He'll be joined by Rory Kinnear, who's starred in all four Daniel Craig-led "James Bond" films and recently terrified audiences in "Men." Plus, Tanya Moodie, Ben Daniels, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen "Zates" Atour, and Amelia Kenworthy have joined the cast, alongside fellow newcomers Calam Lynch, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Selina Lo, Stuart Bowman, Will Keen, Gavi Singh Chera, Kevin Eldon, and William Chubb. However, we don't know who any of these talented folks are playing. We do know that an elf named Círdan will be joining the ensemble — but we don't know who's playing him.

Who are the showrunners of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 2 will be helmed by returning showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay. This shouldn't be much of a surprise, given that they've already mapped out their entire five-season plan. In all likelihood, the only way for these two creatives to be ousted from the project is if Season 2 sees worse ratings than the first. Until such a time, it's Payne and McKay's show. 

As far as news goes, this is kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, having the same artists in charge throughout the entire process leads to a unified, cohesive product. On the other hand, Payne and McKay led "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" in a way that left a significant portion of viewers deeply dissatisfied. Even the kinder reviews admit that the pacing was problematic. Here's hoping things go a little more smoothly on the second go-round.

Who is directing The Rings of Power Season 2?

With J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay acting as showrunners, who will actually be directing the series? Well, it looks like the Middle-earth directing duties will fall to three different creatives . Charlotte Brändström is returning from Season 1 to helm four episodes. In addition to her previous work on "Rings of Power," she's also worked on series such as "The Witcher," "The Man in the High Castle," "Outlander," and "Madam Secretary."

The remaining four episodes will be divvied up by Sanaa Hamri and Louise Hooper. Hamri has worked on some pretty big shows, such as "The Wheel of Time," "American Horror Stories," "Shameless," and "Glee," to say nothing of her music video work with stars like Zendaya and Mariah Carey. As for Hooper, she's worked her magic on shows such as "The Witcher," "Treason," and "The Sandman." In other words, all these talents have helmed some high-profile fantasy shows, and we're sure they'll bring that same energy to Middle-earth.

What will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 be rated?

Season 1 of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is rated TV-14 for "violence, frightening scenes, and alcohol use which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 14," so it's safe to assume that Season 2 will be more of the same. This isn't "House of the Dragon," folks. No one is getting eaten alive or pleasuring themselves out a tower window or keeping marriage "in the family." Unlike HBO's fantasy series, Amazon's fantasy is sitting snugly within territory designed for a larger audience. 

That being said, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is not to be watched without some caution. Death is prevalent and visible onscreen. Halbrand nearly dashes a man's brains against a stone wall. Mordor is created in an all-consuming explosion. Friendship and magic aside, this is a story of war, and that's a heavy subject, no matter the narrative framing. 

Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is available to stream exclusively through Amazon Prime Video, so for anyone who's interested in binging (or watching within a logical and healthy time frame) Season 1 over and over while waiting for Season 2, that's the site. Of course, it's also probably loaded onto TikTok in 200 three-minute increments stitched atop some endless runner game or otherwise attached to the weirdest arts and craft video imaginable. Is that too niche? It feels like a universal experience. 

As for any legitimate alternative to Amazon Prime Video, there's no sign that "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will become a shared production ... ever, really.  Amazon spent way too much money — a hilarious number, frankly — on the rights to Tolkien's work, so playing hot potato with the completed episodes is probably the farthest thing from the docket. 

Rings of Power Season 2: Release, Cast, and Everything We Know

UPDATED (March 18, 2024): A new report has confirmed the release window for Rings of Power will be in 2024, along with a confirmation that Season 3 is also in the works!

Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuted on September 1, 2022, on Prime Video , immediately pulling fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-Earth back into the world.

Many praised the TV show's stunning visuals and how immersive it was, and with good reason, as Amazon spent an incredible $462 million on just those first eight episodes.

The Rings of Power was already planned to be a five-season series once it is complete, and Season 2 is currently in the works, but many questions still remain regarding the upcoming batch of episodes.

Rings of Power Season 2 Release: When Will It Come Out?

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike put a lot of upcoming projects on hold , but not The Rings of Power .

In May 2023, it was reported that Season 2 of The Rings of Power was going to finish the production process in 19 days without showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.

And then in July 2023, Variety reported that Season 2's production was, in fact, wrapped, with filming having completed at some point in late June or early July.

According to Co-Head of Television at Amazon Studios Vernon Sanders, Season 2 could "take a smidge" more than a year after the release of Season 1 to hit the platform:

"I don’t know that I can say… It would be amazing if we could get Season 2 out within a year of Season 1’s release. It may take a smidge longer than that, but we're doing everything we can, and we're going to get better and faster as we go."

Back in October 2022, showrunner and executive producer Patrick McKay stated that it could take "another couple [of] years" before fans see Season 2.

Taking both of those quotes into account, it can be inferred that the actual release window will likely be around the middle of 2024.

This prediction is in line with a new report from February 2024 from the Fellowship of Fans where the outlet stated that the rough cuts of Season 2 were finished in late 2023, meaning that a premiere date in 2024 is likely. 

UPDATE: A recent report from THR has confirmed that Season 2 of The Rings of Power has wrapped filming and will be released "later this year". 

With the 2024 release window now confirmed, it is likely that Season 2 will be released at a similar time in the year that Season 1 was, possibly in September or August 2024.

Amazon Prime's flagship show, The Boys , will finish airing season 4 in July 2024, meaning the August and September months are perfect release months for Rings of Power !

Rings of Power Season 2 Cast: Who Will Return?

In Season 1 of The Rings of Power , most of the characters that fans got to know and love were, fortunately, able to make it to the end of the final episode alive, which means that there will be a lot of returning cast members and characters.

Here is a list of everyone who is confirmed to be returning in Season 2:

Morfydd Clark - Galadriel

Galadriel was really the star of Season 1 of The Rings of Power as she hunted Sauron, looking to continue her brother Finrod's mission of killing the dark lord. In Season 2, Morfydd Clark's character will likely still be in a state of shock and anger after Sauron was right under her nose the entire time.

Robert Aramayo - Lord Elrond

Robert Aramayo is the first person to portray Elrond since Hugo Weaving in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films. Despite being a longtime friend and ally of Galadriel, Elrond may show a bit of distrust toward her due to finding out about Sauron at the end of the first season.

Markella Kavenagh - Eleanor "Nori" Brandyfoot

As part of the Harfoot race of Hobbits, Nori was the central character in the Harfoot plotline with The Stranger during Season 1. By the end, the ambitious Harfoot was tested and faced with grueling adversity, but she made it through and will be traveling with The Stranger.

Ismael Cruz Cordova - Arondir

Many described Arondir as the Legolas of The Rings of Power due to his incredible acrobatics and precision with a bow and arrow. In Season 1, he was the hero of the battle at Tirharad, and his relationship with Bronwyn will likely be explored in Season 2.

Nazanin Boniadi - Bronwyn

Bronwyn proved her toughness in Season 1 on multiple occasions, but the battle with Adar's orcs in her home village really allowed her to shine. She ended the Season by pledging to lead her people to Pelargir, and will likely face much adversity when she goes on that journey in Season 2.

Charlie Vickers - Halbrand/Sauron

It may have been a little obvious for hardcore Lord of the Rings fans to predict that Halbrand was actually Sauron in disguise, but the scene where he revealed himself to Galadriel was still spine-chilling. Vickers' character was featured in an epic final shot of Season 1 in front of an erupting Mount Doom, and that definitely won't be the last time fans see the dark lord.

Owain Arthur - Prince Durin IV

Durin became a fan-favorite character from the moment he first appeared on-screen in the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. He and Elrond's relationship really got a chance to thrive in the later episodes, with Durin ultimately helping Elrond mine Mithril out of the mountain.

Daniel Weyman - The Stranger

One of the biggest ongoing mysteries of Season 1 of The Rings of Power was the Stranger's true identity. When he was revealed to be one of the Istari, many fans narrowed it down to who the character could be, but one line of dialogue in the final episode all but confirmed who he will turn out to be.

Charles Edwards - Lord Celebrimbor

Poor Celebrimbor may have been manipulated the most by Sauron during Season 1, and his role in this story is far from over. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth works will know what is in store for Celebrimbor, but without spoiling what is to come, it is safe to say that it will be eventful.

Cynthia Addai-Robinson - Queen Regent Miriel

Miriel is the Queen-regent of Numenor in Season 1, and she decided to come to the aid of those in the Southlands to fight against Adar and his Orcs. After the battle, she decided to return to Numenor but doesn't know that her father, King Tar-Palantir, is dead.

Lloyd Owen - Elendil

Elendil quickly became one of the most important characters in the entirety of The Rings of Power . As the father of Isildur and a loyal servant to Numenor, he has no idea just how important his role in this tale will be.

Maxim Baldry - Isildur

Isildur may actually be the most important character in the entirety of the Lord of the Rings umbrella (Samwise Gamgee is a close second), but the ending of Season 1 of The Rings of Power made it seem as though he died. As many fans know, though, he is probably not dead, and will more than likely make a triumphant return in Season 2.

Who Is Being Replaced in Rings of Power?

Joseph Mawle's Adar was one of the most chilling antagonists of Season 1 of The Rings of Power , and by the end, he seemed to barely escape by the skin of his teeth.

However, Mawle will not be returning for Season 2, and fans will get to see Sam Hazeldine take over the role of Adar. The reasoning behind Mawle's departure was never given.

Some other new faces will be showing up in Season 2 as well, but they won't be in the form of recasts, just new characters that will be introduced.

Amazon confirmed that Game of Thrones ' Ciaran Hinds will be joining the mix along with Rory Kinnear, Tanya Moodie, Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen 'Zates' Atour, Ben Daniels, Sam Hazeldine, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodson, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Calam Lynch, William Chub, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, and Gavi Singh Chera, 

What Will Happen in Rings of Power Season 2?

While The Rings of Power does loosely follow the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, J.D. Payne, and Patrick McKay are putting their own spin on the show due to the characters and source material that are within Amazon's rights.

With that being said, it is impossible to predict what will actually come to pass, but the two writers did tease that Season 2 will be "bigger and better."

According to Payne and McKay, Sauron will also be in the spotlight much more than he was in Season 1. Now that the curtain is pulled back and the audience knows who Sauron is, he will be completely fleshed out.

Payne described the treatment of Sauron's character in Season 2 to be similar to the way Galadriel was handled in Season 1:

"Season one opens with: Who is Galadriel? Where did she come from? What did she suffer? Why is she driven? We’re doing the same thing with Sauron in season two. We’ll fill in all the missing pieces." 

McKay even compared the complexity of Sauron's character to that of Tony Soprano and Walter White:

"Sauron can now just be Sauron. Like Tony Soprano or Walter White. He’s evil, but complexly evil. We felt like if we did that in season one, he’d overshadow everything else. So the first season is like ' Batman Begins ,' and ' The Dark Knight' is the next movie, with Sauron maneuvering out in the open. We’re really excited. Season two has a canonical story. There may well be viewers who are like, ‘This is the story we were hoping to get in season one!’ In season two, we’re giving it to them."

It was also reported that Season 2 will feature multiple locations that fans will be familiar with, characters that have been at the center of hearts for decades, and even an Ancalagon the Black-sized battle that will take place over two episodes.

No details regarding other characters have been revealed at this time, but it can be theorized that Galadriel will continue her journey hunting Sauron.

The Stranger and Nori, on the other hand, are headed for Rhun so that he can find the constellation that he was looking for in Season 1.

Who Is the Villain in Rings of Power Season 2?

Based on everything that Payne and McKay said about how Sauron will be handled in Season 2, it is safe to say that he will be the main antagonist as he begins to build up his kingdom in Mordor.

If the dark lord will get as much screen time as Sauron in Season 2 as he did as Halbrand in Season 1, then he really may be the true central character of the upcoming batch of episodes.

It is also important to remember that Sauron isn't the only threat looming across Middle-earth.

Adar is still out there and the chances of him returning with a vengeance in Season 2 are extremely high.

The Stranger and Nori will also almost definitely come face-to-face with some sort of danger as they travel the countryside on their own journey.

As the release date for Season 2 of The Rings of Power gets closer, fans will undoubtedly learn more about what they can expect from the upcoming installment.

Will There Be A Rings of Power Season 3?

Along with the confirmation that Rings of Power season 2 would air in 2024, Amazon also confirmed that they are working on Season 3!

Amazon has signed Rings of Power showrunners, Patrick McKay and JD Payne, to an exclusive 3-year deal according to a recent The Hollywood Reporter article. The article also confirms that the showrunners are in the early stages of developing season 3. 

Their 3-year deal could also be a strong indication that Amazon plans on developing Season 4 and Season 5 of The Rings of Power as well!

Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video. 

Read more about The Rings of Power: 

Is Rings of Power Season 2 the Only Lord of the Rings Project In Development?

Rings of Power Season 2 Needs to Fix These 5 Issues From the First Season

The Rings of Power Star In Talks for Multiple Marvel Roles

LATEST NEWS

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Might Debut A New Race For The Show From Middle-Earth (But Which?)

I n late February, J.R.R. Tolkien fan site Fellowship of Fans posted a rumor claiming that  Amazon Studios had deliberately leaked false information for Season 2 of its "The Rings of Power" series . The group, which is known for reporting scoops, leaks, and general updates from across the Tolkien landscape, launched a full investigation into which of its posted rumors were true and which ones were false.

On April 2, the site shared the results of that inquiry, revealing it believed that, of its own rumor reporting, there was only one false rumor: that Gavi Singh Chera would appear in "The Rings of Power" Season 2 as an Angelic Sauron . The rumor was plausible, as shape-shifting has an important role in Middle-earth lore, and Sauron appears in more than one guise throughout Tolkien's stories.

Nevertheless, Fellowship of Fans is now claiming the rumor is false — even though Chera is still on the show. When Amazon Prime made a casting announcement for Season 2 in late 2022, the actor was officially listed in the group — albeit without any additional information regarding his character. Fellowship of Fans is aware of this, and along with debunking the Sauron leak, the site  announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Gavi Singh Chera plays a character from a race/ group of people NOT YET SEEN in the show." On its website, it added that this update is possible thanks to new sources with knowledge of what's happening behind the scenes.

The obvious follow-up question to the update is, what "new race/group" from Tolkien's world might Gavi Singh Chera represent?

Read more: Dumb Reasons These TV Shows Were Cancelled

What New Middle-Earth Race Might Debut In Season 2?

In a YouTube breakdown of the leak accuracy findings, Fellowship of Fans elaborated on the new update, saying, "[Gavi Singh Chera is] not a character part of any group that we saw in Season 1." The site added that this rules out Elven groups, Númenóreans, and the human tribes we saw in the first season, concluding, "It's actually quite a mystery as to what he is."

While it's a mystery, there are a few potential answers. Tolkien's world is brimming with creatures, both humanoid and otherwise, and several could make an appearance in Season 2. With that said, the most obvious choice here is that Chera is from Rhûn. The kingdoms of Harad, Khand, and Rhûn lie on the eastern and southern edges of the Middle-earth map. Rhûn is in the east, and both Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) ended Season 1 heading off in that direction. 

Fellowship of Fans adds that there were conflicting rumors that Chera may have been on the show's sets in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This coincides with other potential sightings of "The Stranger" on-site in that same location. Putting all of the pieces together (and assuming everything is true — which is a major caveat), Chera could be playing a character that Nori and The Stranger meet in Rhûn. The one issue here is that the three Mystics from Season 1 likely came from Rhûn too. This would mean we've already seen that race on the show.

Who Else Could Gavi Singh Chera Play?

If Gavi Singh Chera isn't Sauron and doesn't end up being from Rhûn, what other groups have we not yet seen? There are a few additional human options here.

For instance, there are still many other people groups who live around Middle-earth during the Second Age (when "The Rings of Power" takes place). One of these is J.R.R.  Tolkien's mysterious wood people, the Drúedain . This group (who are in "The Return of the King" book but were cut from Peter Jackson's adaptation) are around during "The Rings of Power," and some of them even briefly make their way to Númenor. 

The regions southeast and south of Middle-earth (where the Men of Khand and Harad eventually settle) are populated at this time, too. Technically, the show has already introduced the Southlanders as a human race, and the Númenóreans will eventually settle the southern coastlands. Still, other humans are living in these vast regions during the Second Age as well. Tolkien gives us very little information regarding the local tribes, but they're there and they could appear on the show.

Another more recognizable option is the Men of Bree. "The Fellowship of the Ring" book says of the Breelanders, "According to their own tales they were the original inhabitants and were the descendants of the first Men that ever wandered into the West of the middle-world." Chera could play a Breelander, giving us a fun glimpse into the world of Bree at a time that even Tolkien didn't explore.

Chera Could Play A Non-Human Character

Gavi Singh Chera could also play someone of a non-human race. We may have seen the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm in Season 1, but they are just one of several Dwarven groups living scattered across the Middle-earth continent. There are even official Dwarven "Houses," some of which easily overlap with the story. For instance, both the Blacklocks and the Stonefoots live in Rhûn. These are distinct Dwarven enclaves that could be considered a "new group" for the show.

Ents are another big question mark here. Technically, we saw an Ent family in Season 1, but only for a split second. The arboreal race plays a major part in the events of the Second Age, including the Entish female counterparts, the Entwives. Perhaps Chera will be slipping on a motion capture suit, much like Andy Serkis did, to play the part of Treebeard or one of his peers.

The Eagles are another option. The Race of the Great Eagles plays a critical role in Middle-earth history . Dragons are also a possibility here, as they thrive in the far northern regions of the continent during this time. In both cases, these airborne candidates can talk, and Chera could be on tap to voice them if they play a part in Season 2. However, once again, we got a quick glimpse of an Eagle and a Dragon in the opening sequence of Season 1, Episode 1, so these don't officially fit the "we haven't seen them before" criteria.

Whatever Chera's role is, there's no doubt that he's on the show, and time will tell what role showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have planned for him as they continue to unfold their five-season story.

Read the original article on Looper

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‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 will be ‘edgier’ and ‘darker’ than the first season

Here’s everything we know about the plot of ‘the rings of power’ season 2 — so far.

By Natalie Issa

While fans are eagerly waiting for “The Rings of Power” Season 2 to premiere, they’ll have to be sustained by any tidbit of info from the cast and crew.

The latest? “The Rings of Power” Season 2 director Charlotte Brändström recently sat down with MovieZine to chat about the upcoming season — and dropped some serious hints.

‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 will be ‘gritty’ and ‘character-driven’

Brändström chatted about the latest season, but more specifically the tone of Season 2, saying that “Middle Earth will start to look and feel a lot bleaker,” according to Collider .

“What I know and what I can say for a fact is that it’s going to be darker, and it’s going to be edgier and more character-driven. I still think that we have some very interesting episodes coming up,” Brändström said.

She added, “I think it’s going to be a very good season. We tried to make it more gritty, a little bit more dirty I guess. And not in the image, but to make it as authentic as possible. We have some very surprising twists and turns in it as well.”

What will ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 be about?

As “The Rings of Power” showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, “The Rings of Power” Season 2 will explore Sauron’s background, painting him as an “antihero” like Walter White and Tony Soprano.

“Season 1 opens with: Who is Galadriel? Where did she come from? What did she suffer? Why is she driven?” Payne told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re doing the same thing with Sauron in Season 2. We’ll fill in all the missing pieces.” 

Payne compares Season 1 to “Batman Begins” and Season 2 to “The Dark Knight,” “with Sauron maneuvering out in the open.”

“We’re really excited,” Payne continued. “Season 2 has a canonical story.”

Showrunners have added some new faces to “The Rings of Power” Season 2 cast — including actor Ciarán Hinds, known for “Persuasion” and “The Women in Black,” as the Deseret News previously reported — which could point to new major characters from “The Lord of The Rings” cannon.

One such character is Círdan, an Elven ring bearer. As McKay told RadioTimes , “I think it’s come out that Círdan is going to be a character next season. So he’s a ring bearer, as they say.”

Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel, also hinted at the possibility of Season 2 introducing Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband. She told RadioTimes, “So I feel that when or if we meet Celeborn, we will meet someone who truly knows Galadriel.”

How many seasons is ‘The Rings of Power’ supposed to be?

“The Rings of Power” showrunners have five seasons planned out, per IndieWire .

As Payne told Empire Magazine , “They knew from the beginning that was the size of the canvas — this was a big story with a clear beginning, middle and end. There are things in the first season that don’t pay off until Season 5.”

“We even know what our final shot of the last episode is going to be,” Payne added.

As Collider points out, whether or not we’ll see all five seasons remains unclear. But “Amazon did invest a lot of money in the IP, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they decided to see it through,” the article noted.

When is ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 coming out?

While “The Rings of Power” Season 2 is definitely happening, Amazon hasn’t announced a release date yet.

But the whole season has already been filmed, per Collider , and RadioTimes speculates that it will likely come out in 2024.

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The Rings of Power season 2: Everything you need to know

Amazon’s TV series The Rings of Power, part of The Lord of the Rings universe, was a smash hit for Prime Video. The first instalment came to an explosive climax, with a true villain ready to take centre stage.

It should come as no surprise that the show is returning for a second season. If you want to know when The Rings of Power will be back on our screens, and what the story might be, then we’ve rounded up everything we know so far.

We also have a similar article for the next season of the Netflix fantasy hit The Witcher .

When could The Rings of Power season 2 release?

Amazon has not yet revealed an official release date for season 2 of The Rings of Power. However, we can look at the production of the first season to estimate when it might be.

Filming for the next season began in October 2022. The first season took around 18 months to film, but keep in mind that this was during COVID, and included numerous cast and crew members leaving throughout the process.

Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke told Variety the following: “We want the shortest time possible between seasons, but we want to keep the bar just as high. So it’ll take what it takes… We’re moving fast.”

Assuming that the filming process wraps up quicker than last year, we could see The Rings of Power return around the first half of 2024 . Of course, this is just speculation – if we hear anything more concrete, we’ll update this article.

If the show continues to be a success, then the showrunners have content planned for at least five seasons, according to Empire .

The next season will trade the classic filming location of New Zealand for the UK, much to the dismay of many fans. 

Amazon Prime Video

The Rings of Power season 2 cast – who is returning?

Spoilers for season 1 of The Rings of Power below

Amazon hasn’t officially released a cast list for season 2. However, given the events that are expected to come, we believe that we could see the return of the following characters:

• Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
• Charlie Vickers as Sauron/Halbrand
• Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
• Robert Aramayo as Elrond
• Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
• Charles Edwards as Lord Celebrimbor
• Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-galad
• Owain Arthur as Prince Durin
• Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa
• Peter Mullan as King Durin III
• Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn
• Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
• Geoff Morrell as Waldreg
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Míriel, Queen Regent of Númenor
• Lloyd Owen as Captain Elendil
• Ema Horvath as Eärien
• Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
• Alex Tarrant as Valandil
• Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot
• Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot
• Beau Cassidy as Dilly Brandyfoot
• Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow
• Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva

There are also a whole host of new faces joining the next season of the show. Sam Hazeldine will be replacing Joseph Mawle as the Orc leader Adar – he is best known for Peaky Blinders.

Other new additions include Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, Calam Lynch, Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear and Tanya Moodie.

What will the plot of The Rings of Power season 2 be?

Overall, fans can expect the next season to be “grittier, more intense, [and] maybe a little scarier” according to executive producer Lindsey Weber (via Deadline ).

The end of season 1 concluded with Sauron – previously disguised as the drifter Halbrand – arriving at Mordor. He is likely preparing for an upcoming battle with Adar and the Orcs.

Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay discussed with The Hollywood Reporter how the character can now fully embrace the role of the villain: “Like Tony Soprano or Walter White. He’s evil, but complexly evil. We felt like if we did that in season one, he’d overshadow everything else. So the first season is like Batman Begins, and the The Dark Knight is the next movie, with Sauron maneuvering out in the open.”

Galadriel is almost certain to be reeling from the reveal of Halbrand’s true identity after he manipulated her, especially considering that the pair had some romantic entanglements. We wouldn’t be surprised if she worked on enacting her own revenge next season.

Galadriel forged the Three Rings of Power with Elrond and Celebrimbor to save the elven race. However, will they be able to hold onto them, and ensure that nobody is corrupted in the process?

These aren’t the only rings that will be explored in the show. McKay told The Radio Times the following: “The second season is very much about more rings. The song at the end, [of season 1], by Fiona Apple – which is like crazy dream come true – suggests there’s Three, then there’s Seven. Why would the Dwarves be desperate for rings? And how do they get seduced? And how do they get fooled? And then Men is an even more complex story.

“There are Nine leaders of Men who want power, and so each of those rings and the forging of them is not just like, ‘Now the magic thing got made’, but a story to be told. And I think there are other stories to be told as well, but certainly, we’ve kicked it off and next season is gonna go deeper into it.”

The other extremely intriguing plot thread in season 1 is Nori Brandyfoot and The Stranger, who are travelling together. All signs seem to show that this mysterious character is a younger version of Gandalf, so its almost certain that their journey will be a pivotal plot point in season 2.

How to watch The Rings of Power

You can watch the first season of The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video , Amazon’s rival to Netflix.

Prime Video is one of several benefits from a general Prime subscription , with other perks including free next-day shipping and Prime Music. Prime costs £8.99/$14.99 per month, or £95/$139 per year. However, you can always try it for free through a free trial . 

If you’re not interested in any of the other benefits, then you can subscribe to just Prime Video for £5.99/$8.99 per month.

Author: Hannah Cowton , Senior Entertainment Writer

Hannah Cowton is a Senior Entertainment Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She's also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.

Recent stories by Hannah Cowton:

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Halle Berry Goes Classic in Patent Leather Shoes at CinemaCon 2024 for ‘Never Let Go’

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Halle Berry attended Lionsgate’s exclusive presentation of its upcoming slate during 2024 CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Wednesday. For the occasion, the star stepped out in pointed-toe heels, which definitely required a double take.

During the presentation, The Oscar winner took to the stage to discuss her new film by Lionsgate, “Never Let Go,” premiering on Sept. 27. Berry shared insights into her filming experience and collaboration with esteemed director Alex Aja, offering attendees a glimpse into the creative process behind the highly anticipated film. Related Stories Storm Reid Soars in Andrea Wazen Platform Heels at Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2024 Cynthia Erivo Brings Wild Flair in Leopard-Print Ferragamo Shoes at Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2024

The “Catwoman” star has worn a variety of heels in her lengthy and impressive career thus far. She is often seen donning elevated heels when out and about off-duty and on the red carpet. In 2023, she was seen wearing a pair of Campari patent leather Mary Jane pumps while out in New York. 

Halle Berry Shoe Style:

The actress is known for incorporating high heels in her red carpet and off-duty looks, she shows off the versatility of a classic pump by pairing it was a sleek gown for an appearance or with a pair of jeans to give it a more casual vibe. She’s often seen wearing heels from Manolo Blahnik or Michael Kors.

Last year, Berry also opted to incorporate some other footwear options outside of her affinity for heels. In September, the actress sat front row at the Michael Kors spring 2024 collection during New York Fashion Week in a pair of black knee-high boots. In the summer, she gave loafers a try, sporting a chic pair with a metallic-effect strap from the brand Santoni for World Microbiome Day.

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